General election: Boris Johnson launches Conservative election campaign after day of gaffes and mishaps

Boris Johnson was today fighting to get the Conservative general election campaign back on track after a day in which the party was forced onto the back foot by a cabinet resignation and a series of gaffes.

The prime minister launched the official Tory campaign with a rally in Birmingham after visiting the Queen to formally request the dissolution of parliament.

Mr Johnson urged party faithful to “Come with us, get Brexit done and take this country forward” to cheers from activists.

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But his comments were overshadowed by a series of gaffes and mishaps, including the resignation as Welsh Secretary of Alun Cairns

Mr Cairns quit on Wednesday amid questions over whether he was aware of a former aide’s role in the “sabotage” of a rape trial.

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1/56 Ken Clarke – Independent

Former chancellor served as the member for Rushcliffe from 1970. Mr Clarke served most of his term as a conservative before he had the whip withdrawn in September 2019 for voting against the government. Earned a majority of 8,010 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

2/56 John Bercow – Independent

Former speaker of the commons served as the member for Buckingham from 1997. Mr Bercow served as a conservative until his election as speaker in 2009, a role that he retained until his resignation in October 2019

3/56 Amber Rudd – Independent

Former home secretary served as the member for Hastings and Rye from 2010. Ms Rudd served most of her term as a conservative before resigning the whip in October, citing concerns over the government’s approach to Brexit. Earned a majority of 346 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

4/56 Rory Stewart – Independent

Former international development secretary served as the member for Penrith and The Border from 2010. Mr Stewart served as a conservative for most of his term until September 2019 when he had the whip withdrawn for voting against the government. Earned a majority on 15,910 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

5/56 Vince Cable – Liberal Democrat

Former leader of the Liberal Democrats served as the member for Twickenham between 1997-2015 and 2017-2019. Earned a majority of 9,726 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

6/56 Sir Oliver Letwin – Independent

Former chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster served as the member for West Dorset from 1997. Mr Letwin served most of his term as a conservative before he had the whip withdrawn in September 2019 for voting against the government. Earned a majority of 19,091 in 2017

7/56 David Lidington – Conservative

Former chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster served as the member for Aylesbury from 1992. Earned a majority of 14,696 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

8/56 Nicky Morgan – Conservative

Culture secretary served as the member for Loughborough from 2010. Earned a majority of 4,269 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

9/56 Justine Greening – Independent

Former education secretary served as the member for Putney from 2005. Ms Greening served most of her term as a conservative before she had the whip withdrawn in September 2019 for voting against the government. Earned a majority of 1,554 in 2017.

Chris McAndrew

10/56 Jo Johnson – Conservative

Former universities minister served as member for Orpington from 2010. Mr Johnson is the brother of prime minister Boris Johnson. Earned a majority of 19,453 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

11/56 Heidi Allen – Liberal Democrats

Served as the member for South Cambridgeshire from 2015. From 2015 to March 2019 Ms Allen was a member of the Conservatives, leaving to form ChangeUK, which she left in October to join the Liberal Democrats. Earned a majority of 15,952 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

12/56 Nick Boles – Independent

Former skills minister served as the member for Grantham and Stamford from 2010. Mr Boles served most of his term as a conservative before resigning the whip in April 2019 in protest of the government’s approach to Brexit. Earned a majority of 20,094 in 2017

13/56 Hugo Swire – Conservative

Former commonwealth minister served as the member for East Devon from 2001. Earned a majority of 8,036 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

14/56 Kate Hoey – Labour

Prominent Laboour brexiteer served as the member for Vauxhall from 1989. Earned a majority of 20,250 in 2017

PA

15/56 Sir Alan Duncan – Conservative

Served as the member for Rutland and Melton from 1992. Earned a majority of 23,104 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

16/56 Sir Nicholas Soames – Conservative

Former armed forces minister served as the member for Mid Sussex from 1997, having previously served as member for Crawley from 1983. Though Mr Soames served the majority of his term as a conservative, he briefly had the whip removed from September-October 2019 for voting against the government. Earned a majority of 19,673 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

17/56 Owen Smith – Labour

Served as the member for Pontypridd from 2010. Challenged Jeremy Corbyn for leadership of the Labour party in 2016. Earned a majority of 11,448 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

18/56 Jared O’Mara – Independent

Served as the member for Sheffield Hallam from 2017. Mr O’Mara was suspended in October 2017 over offensive comments made online. Earned a majority of 2,125 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

19/56 Sir Michael Fallon – Conservative

Former defence secretary served as the member for Sevenoaks from 1997, having previously served as the member for Darlington from 1983-1992. Earned a majority of 21,917 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

20/56 Stephen Twigg – Labour

Served as the member for Liverpool West Derby from 2010, having previously serve as the member for Enfield Southgate from 1997-2005. Earned a majority of 32,908 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

21/56 Jim Fitzpatrick – Labour

Served as the member for Poplar and Limehouse from 1997. Earned a majority of 27,712 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

22/56 Nick Hurd – Conservative

Former Northern Ireland minister served as the member for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner from 2005. Earned a majority of 13,980 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

23/56 Ronnie Campbell – Labour

Served as the member for Blyth Valley from 1987. Earned a majority of 7,915 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

24/56 Geoffrey Robinson – Labour

Served as the member for Coventry North West from 1976. Earned a majority of 8,580 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

25/56 Kevin Barron – Labour

Served as the member for Rother Valley from 1983. Earned a majority of 3,882 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

26/56 Sir Patrick McLoughlin – Conservative

Served as the member for Derbyshire Dales from 1986. Earned a majority of 14,327 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

27/56 David Tredinnick – Conservative

Served as the member for Bosworth from 1987. Earned a majority of 18,351 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

28/56 Ann Clywd – Labour

Served as the member for Cynon Valley from 1984. Earned a majority of 13,238 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

29/56 Jim Cunningham

Served as the member for Coventry South from 1992. Earned a majority of 7,947 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

30/56 Stephen Pound – Labour

Served as the member for Ealing North from 1997. Earned a majority of 19,693 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

31/56 Helen Jones – Labour

Served as the member for Warrington North from 1997. Earned a majority of 9,582 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

32/56 Guto Bebb – Independent

Served as the member for Aberconwy from 2010. Mr Bebb served most of his term as a conservative before he had the whip withdrawn in September 2019 for voting against the government. Earned a majority of 635 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

33/56 Caroline Spelman – Consevative

Served as the member for Meriden from 1997. Earned a majority of 19,198 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

34/56 Keith Simpson – Conservative

Served as the member for Broadland from 2010, having previously served for Mid Norfolk between 1997-2010. Earned a majority of 15,816 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

35/56 Mark Prisk – Conservative

Served as the member for Hertford and Storford from 2001. Earned a majority of 19,035 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

36/56 Claire Perry – Conservatives

Served as the member for Devizes from 2010. Earned a majority of 21,136 in 2017

37/56 Glyn Davies – Conservative

Served as the member for Montgomeryshire from 2010. Earned a majority of 9,285 in 2017

38/56 Roberta Blackman-Woods – Labour

Served as the member for City of Durham from 2005. Earned a majority of 12,364 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

39/56 Mims Davies – Conservative

Served as the member for Eastleigh from 2015. Earned a majority of 13,238 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

40/56 Teresa Pearce – Labour

Served as the member for Erith and Thamesmead from 2010. Earned a majority of 10,014 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

41/56 Joan Ryan – ChangeUK

Served as the member for Enfield North from 2015. Ms Ryan was elected as a Labour MP before leaving to form ChangeUK in March 2019. Earned a majority of 10,247 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

42/56 Jeremy LeFroy – Conservative

Served as the member for Stafford from 2010. Earned a majority of 7,729 in 2017

Amakuru

43/56 Albert Owen – Labour

Served as the member for Ynys Mon from 2001. Earned a majority of 5,259 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

44/56 Seema Kennedy – Conservative

Served as the member for South Ribble from 2015. Earned a majority of 7,421 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

45/56 Adrian Bailey – Labour

Served as the member for West Bromwich West from 2000. Earned a majority of 4,460 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

46/56 John Mann – Labour

Served as the member for Bassetlaw from 2001. Earned a majority of 4,852 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

47/56 Mark Field – Conservative

Served as the member for Cities of London and Westminster from 2001. Earned a majority of 3,148 in 2017

48/56 Peter Heaton-Jones – Conservative

Served as the member for North Devon from 2015. Earned a majority of 4,332 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

49/56 Norman Lamb – Liberal Democrat

Served as the member for North Norfolk from 2001. Earned a majority of 3,512 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

50/56 Sarah Newton – Conservative

Served as the member for Truro and Falmouth from 2010. Earned a majority of 3,792 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

51/56 Bill Grant – Conservative

Served as the member for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock from 2017. Earned a majority of 2,774 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

52/56 Ian Lucas – Labour

Served as the member for Wrexham from 2001. Earned a majority of 1,832 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

53/56 Richard Harrington – Conservative

Served as the member for Watford from 2010. Though Mr Harrington served the majority of his term as a conservative, he briefly had the whip removed from September-October 2019 for voting against the government. Earned a majority of 2,092 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

54/56 Gloria De Piero – Labour

Served as the member for Ashfield from 2010. Earned a majority of 35,947 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

55/56 Paul Farrelly – Labour

Served as the member for Newcastle-under-Lyme from 2001. Earned a majority of 30 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

56/56 Louise Ellman – Independent

Served as the member for Liverpool Riverside from 1997. Ms Ellman served most of her term as a Labour member before resigning from the party in October 2019 citing concerns over antisemitism. Earned a majority of 35,947 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

1/56 Ken Clarke – Independent

Former chancellor served as the member for Rushcliffe from 1970. Mr Clarke served most of his term as a conservative before he had the whip withdrawn in September 2019 for voting against the government. Earned a majority of 8,010 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

2/56 John Bercow – Independent

Former speaker of the commons served as the member for Buckingham from 1997. Mr Bercow served as a conservative until his election as speaker in 2009, a role that he retained until his resignation in October 2019

3/56 Amber Rudd – Independent

Former home secretary served as the member for Hastings and Rye from 2010. Ms Rudd served most of her term as a conservative before resigning the whip in October, citing concerns over the government’s approach to Brexit. Earned a majority of 346 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

4/56 Rory Stewart – Independent

Former international development secretary served as the member for Penrith and The Border from 2010. Mr Stewart served as a conservative for most of his term until September 2019 when he had the whip withdrawn for voting against the government. Earned a majority on 15,910 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

5/56 Vince Cable – Liberal Democrat

Former leader of the Liberal Democrats served as the member for Twickenham between 1997-2015 and 2017-2019. Earned a majority of 9,726 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

6/56 Sir Oliver Letwin – Independent

Former chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster served as the member for West Dorset from 1997. Mr Letwin served most of his term as a conservative before he had the whip withdrawn in September 2019 for voting against the government. Earned a majority of 19,091 in 2017

7/56 David Lidington – Conservative

Former chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster served as the member for Aylesbury from 1992. Earned a majority of 14,696 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

8/56 Nicky Morgan – Conservative

Culture secretary served as the member for Loughborough from 2010. Earned a majority of 4,269 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

9/56 Justine Greening – Independent

Former education secretary served as the member for Putney from 2005. Ms Greening served most of her term as a conservative before she had the whip withdrawn in September 2019 for voting against the government. Earned a majority of 1,554 in 2017.

Chris McAndrew

10/56 Jo Johnson – Conservative

Former universities minister served as member for Orpington from 2010. Mr Johnson is the brother of prime minister Boris Johnson. Earned a majority of 19,453 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

11/56 Heidi Allen – Liberal Democrats

Served as the member for South Cambridgeshire from 2015. From 2015 to March 2019 Ms Allen was a member of the Conservatives, leaving to form ChangeUK, which she left in October to join the Liberal Democrats. Earned a majority of 15,952 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

12/56 Nick Boles – Independent

Former skills minister served as the member for Grantham and Stamford from 2010. Mr Boles served most of his term as a conservative before resigning the whip in April 2019 in protest of the government’s approach to Brexit. Earned a majority of 20,094 in 2017

13/56 Hugo Swire – Conservative

Former commonwealth minister served as the member for East Devon from 2001. Earned a majority of 8,036 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

14/56 Kate Hoey – Labour

Prominent Laboour brexiteer served as the member for Vauxhall from 1989. Earned a majority of 20,250 in 2017

PA

15/56 Sir Alan Duncan – Conservative

Served as the member for Rutland and Melton from 1992. Earned a majority of 23,104 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

16/56 Sir Nicholas Soames – Conservative

Former armed forces minister served as the member for Mid Sussex from 1997, having previously served as member for Crawley from 1983. Though Mr Soames served the majority of his term as a conservative, he briefly had the whip removed from September-October 2019 for voting against the government. Earned a majority of 19,673 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

17/56 Owen Smith – Labour

Served as the member for Pontypridd from 2010. Challenged Jeremy Corbyn for leadership of the Labour party in 2016. Earned a majority of 11,448 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

18/56 Jared O’Mara – Independent

Served as the member for Sheffield Hallam from 2017. Mr O’Mara was suspended in October 2017 over offensive comments made online. Earned a majority of 2,125 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

19/56 Sir Michael Fallon – Conservative

Former defence secretary served as the member for Sevenoaks from 1997, having previously served as the member for Darlington from 1983-1992. Earned a majority of 21,917 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

20/56 Stephen Twigg – Labour

Served as the member for Liverpool West Derby from 2010, having previously serve as the member for Enfield Southgate from 1997-2005. Earned a majority of 32,908 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

21/56 Jim Fitzpatrick – Labour

Served as the member for Poplar and Limehouse from 1997. Earned a majority of 27,712 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

22/56 Nick Hurd – Conservative

Former Northern Ireland minister served as the member for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner from 2005. Earned a majority of 13,980 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

23/56 Ronnie Campbell – Labour

Served as the member for Blyth Valley from 1987. Earned a majority of 7,915 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

24/56 Geoffrey Robinson – Labour

Served as the member for Coventry North West from 1976. Earned a majority of 8,580 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

25/56 Kevin Barron – Labour

Served as the member for Rother Valley from 1983. Earned a majority of 3,882 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

26/56 Sir Patrick McLoughlin – Conservative

Served as the member for Derbyshire Dales from 1986. Earned a majority of 14,327 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

27/56 David Tredinnick – Conservative

Served as the member for Bosworth from 1987. Earned a majority of 18,351 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

28/56 Ann Clywd – Labour

Served as the member for Cynon Valley from 1984. Earned a majority of 13,238 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

29/56 Jim Cunningham

Served as the member for Coventry South from 1992. Earned a majority of 7,947 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

30/56 Stephen Pound – Labour

Served as the member for Ealing North from 1997. Earned a majority of 19,693 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

31/56 Helen Jones – Labour

Served as the member for Warrington North from 1997. Earned a majority of 9,582 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

32/56 Guto Bebb – Independent

Served as the member for Aberconwy from 2010. Mr Bebb served most of his term as a conservative before he had the whip withdrawn in September 2019 for voting against the government. Earned a majority of 635 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

33/56 Caroline Spelman – Consevative

Served as the member for Meriden from 1997. Earned a majority of 19,198 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

34/56 Keith Simpson – Conservative

Served as the member for Broadland from 2010, having previously served for Mid Norfolk between 1997-2010. Earned a majority of 15,816 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

35/56 Mark Prisk – Conservative

Served as the member for Hertford and Storford from 2001. Earned a majority of 19,035 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

36/56 Claire Perry – Conservatives

Served as the member for Devizes from 2010. Earned a majority of 21,136 in 2017

37/56 Glyn Davies – Conservative

Served as the member for Montgomeryshire from 2010. Earned a majority of 9,285 in 2017

38/56 Roberta Blackman-Woods – Labour

Served as the member for City of Durham from 2005. Earned a majority of 12,364 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

39/56 Mims Davies – Conservative

Served as the member for Eastleigh from 2015. Earned a majority of 13,238 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

40/56 Teresa Pearce – Labour

Served as the member for Erith and Thamesmead from 2010. Earned a majority of 10,014 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

41/56 Joan Ryan – ChangeUK

Served as the member for Enfield North from 2015. Ms Ryan was elected as a Labour MP before leaving to form ChangeUK in March 2019. Earned a majority of 10,247 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

42/56 Jeremy LeFroy – Conservative

Served as the member for Stafford from 2010. Earned a majority of 7,729 in 2017

Amakuru

43/56 Albert Owen – Labour

Served as the member for Ynys Mon from 2001. Earned a majority of 5,259 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

44/56 Seema Kennedy – Conservative

Served as the member for South Ribble from 2015. Earned a majority of 7,421 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

45/56 Adrian Bailey – Labour

Served as the member for West Bromwich West from 2000. Earned a majority of 4,460 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

46/56 John Mann – Labour

Served as the member for Bassetlaw from 2001. Earned a majority of 4,852 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

47/56 Mark Field – Conservative

Served as the member for Cities of London and Westminster from 2001. Earned a majority of 3,148 in 2017

48/56 Peter Heaton-Jones – Conservative

Served as the member for North Devon from 2015. Earned a majority of 4,332 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

49/56 Norman Lamb – Liberal Democrat

Served as the member for North Norfolk from 2001. Earned a majority of 3,512 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

50/56 Sarah Newton – Conservative

Served as the member for Truro and Falmouth from 2010. Earned a majority of 3,792 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

51/56 Bill Grant – Conservative

Served as the member for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock from 2017. Earned a majority of 2,774 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

52/56 Ian Lucas – Labour

Served as the member for Wrexham from 2001. Earned a majority of 1,832 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

53/56 Richard Harrington – Conservative

Served as the member for Watford from 2010. Though Mr Harrington served the majority of his term as a conservative, he briefly had the whip removed from September-October 2019 for voting against the government. Earned a majority of 2,092 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

54/56 Gloria De Piero – Labour

Served as the member for Ashfield from 2010. Earned a majority of 35,947 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

55/56 Paul Farrelly – Labour

Served as the member for Newcastle-under-Lyme from 2001. Earned a majority of 30 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

56/56 Louise Ellman – Independent

Served as the member for Liverpool Riverside from 1997. Ms Ellman served most of her term as a Labour member before resigning from the party in October 2019 citing concerns over antisemitism. Earned a majority of 35,947 in 2017

Chris McAndrew

The Vale of Glamorgan MP, who denies wrongdoing, said he was stepping down over the “very sensitive matter” and would co-operate with a probe into whether he broke the ministerial code.

His resignation came a day after Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, sparked fury by suggesting that it would have been “common sense” for the residents of Grenfell Tower to ignore fire bridge advice and leave their homes when the tower block was engulfed in flames.

And another Tory MP, Andrew Bridgen, was forced to apologise for suggesting, as he came the defence of Mr Rees-Mogg, that the Commons leader was cleverer than those who died in the fire.

Andrew Bridgen defends Jacob Rees Mogg over Grenfell fire row and says he would have escaped as he’s clever

As the Tory campaign threatened to descend into chaos, party chairman James Cleverly was forced to defend a campaign video that had been edited to falsely suggest that shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer had been unable to answer a question on his party’s policy.

Mr Cleverly insisted that the footage – which added a long pause as if Sir Keir had faltered in his response – was a “lighthearted satirical video”, despite accusations that it had been doctored and was misleading.

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The Tory chairman was then the subject of a furious tirade from Sky News presenter Kay Burley, who claimed he had broken a promise to be interviewed on her show.

Ms Burley claimed Mr Cleverly was “probably 15 feet away from where I’m standing just at the moment” and added: “I’ve been in to see him during the break, he said he wasn’t due to come and talk to us today although they had said that they would talk to us.”

But the Tory chair insisted he had not been booked onto the Sky show, and was in fact conducting a TalkRadio interview at the time he was empty-chaired.

“I like to think I’m a pretty decent multitasker, but I cannot physically be in two places at the same time,” he said.

Ms Burley said she would have grilled Mr Cleverly not only on the Cairns case and Mr Rees-Mogg’s Grenfell gaffe, but also the government’s refusal to publish a report into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 EU referendum and the blocking of Tory plans to use Treasury costings to attack Labour spending plans.

Mr Johnson himself also caused controversy by comparing Mr Corbyn’s plans to tax high-earners to Soviet leader Josef Stalin’s murder and deportation of millions of kulaks – a group of land-owning peasants.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, the prime minister said: “They pretend that their hatred is directed only at certain billionaires – and they point their fingers at individuals with a relish and a vindictiveness not seen since Stalin persecuted the kulaks.”

And the string of mishaps continued as he headed for Birmingham, with a group of up to 20 anti-austerity protesters being removed from the rally venue ahead of his speech after chanting: “Refugees here to stay! Austerity no way!”

But he received a warm welcome inside, as he entered to cheers and pumping rock music.

The prime minister said: “I didn’t want an election, no prime minister wants an election particularly when I am enjoying this and there is so much that we want to get on and do.

“But my friends we have no choice. We have a parliament that is paralysed, blocked, generally incapable of digestive function as an anaconda that has swallowed a tapir.”

Mr Johnson said that the 12 December poll would be the “most important in a generation” and turned his fire on Labour’s “Bermuda triangle” Brexit plans.